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﻿Lech Lecha: Mamrei's Advice

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This week:
Bechukotai

The Sages made an astounding statement about Abraham and the
mitzvah of britmilah (circumcision). According to the Midrash
(Tanchuma VaYeira 3),
Abraham only circumcised himself after consulting with his friend
Mamrei.

“Why did God reveal Himself to Abraham on Mamrei’s property?
Because Mamrei gave Abraham advice about circumcision.”

Could it be that Abraham, God’s faithful servant, entertained
doubts whether he should fulfill God’s command? What special difficulty
did circumcision pose that, unlike the other ten trials that Abraham
underwent, this mitzvah required the counsel of a friend?

Abraham’s Dilemma

Abraham was afraid that if he circumcised himself, people would no
longer be drawn to seek him out. The unique sign of milah
would set Abraham apart from other people, and they would naturally
distance themselves from him. Additionally, people would avoid
seeking his instruction out of fear that Abraham might demand that
they too accept this difficult mitzvah upon themselves.
As the Midrash in BereishitRabbah
(sec. 47) says:

“When God commanded Abraham to circumcise, he told
God, ‘Until now, people used to come to me; now they will no longer
come!'”

This side effect of britmilah deeply disturbed
Abraham. It negated the very goal of Abraham’s life and
vision — bringing the entire world to recognize “the name of God,
Lord of the universe” (Gen. 21:33). If isolated, Abraham would
no longer be able to carry on with his life’s mission.

This then was Abraham’s dilemma. Perhaps it was preferable not to
fulfill God’s command to circumcise himself. On the personal level,
Abraham would lose the spiritual benefits of the mitzvah, but the
benefit to the entire world might very well outweigh his own
personal loss.

Mamrei’s Advice

Mamrei advised Abraham not to make calculations regarding a direct
command from God. God’s counsel and wisdom certainly transcend the
limited wisdom of the human mind.

For his sage advice, Mamrei was rewarded midahknegedmidah (in like measure). Since Mamrei respected the ultimate importance of God’
commands, placing them above human reasoning, he was honored with
the revelation of divine prophecy on his property.

God’s Plan

In fact, Abraham’s fears of isolation were realized. From the time
of Isaac’s birth, people began to avoid him. Abraham
himself sent away the children of his concubines “from before his
son Isaac” (Gen. 25:6), and God commanded him to send away
Ishmael.

All of this was the Divine plan. God wanted Abraham to concentrate
his energies in educating Isaac. For in Isaac resided the seed for
repairing and completing the entire world. It was necessary,
however, to first nurture the initial sanctity of the Jewish
people. The enlightenment and elevation of the world that Abraham
so desired would be realized through the spiritual influence of his
children.